Method of and apparatus for making wall-paper



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

' G K. BIRGE.

METHOD .OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WALL PAPER. No. 471,287. Patented Mar. 22, 1892;

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. K. BIRGE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WALL PAPER. No. 471,287. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. K. BIRGE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WALL PAPER. No. 471,287. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

I vi he K -2 mneJJe r.

NITED STATES GEORGE K. BIRGE, OF BUFFALO, NE'l/V YORK.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WALL-PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,287, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed September 7, 1891. Serial No. 404,950. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. BIRGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Making Wall-Paper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the method of and apparatus for making embossed wall-paper having its embossments or raised portions colored or otherwise ornamented differently from the depressions forming the background of the paper, the contrast of the variegated,raised, and depressed poriortis of the paper producing a pleasing ef- The object of my invention is to manufacture such wall-paper in a rapid manner by automatic means.

The accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, represent a suitable apparatus for making wall paper by my improved method.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a building containing the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the wipingmachine for removing the background color or coating from the embossments of the paper. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

In practicing my invention the color,bronze, or other coating which is to be exposed upon the embossments or raised portions of the finished paper, and which may be termed the relief color, is first applied to the plain paper in a grounding or coating machine A of any well-known or desirable construction. A hard color, which is not readily wiped off by the application of moisture, is preferably used for this purpose. The paper is next conducted to a drying'room and hung upon racks B or otherwise treated to dry the hard color or coating. When the paper is dry, the color or other coating which is to cover the depres sions of the paper when embossed, and which may be termed the background color, is applied to the hard or relief color, the paperbeing passed through the grounding-machineA a second time for this purpose and a different paint reservoir or fountain being substituted in the machine for the one first used. If desired, however, two separate grounding or coating machines may be employed, one for each color. The second or background color is preferably soft, so that it can be readily wiped off by moistening it. After receiving the soft background color the paper is again conducted to the drying-room, and when dry it is embossed with the desired pattern in a suitable embossing-machine O of any ordinary construction. Only the upper or background color is exposed after the paper is embossed, the under or relief color being completelycovered by the background color. The soft background color is next removed from the embossments or raised portions of the paper, preferably by wiping the paper after moistening it, whereby the. under or relief color is exposed only upon the embossments of the paper, while the depressions which are not reached in Wiping the paper remain covered with the background color, the two colors producing an agreeable contrast, the effect of which is heightened by the elevation of one color and the depression of the. other.

Any suitable Ineansmay be employed for re-' moving the soft background color from the raised portions of the embossed paper; but I prefer to use a machine of the construction shown in the drawings.

In this machine, which is more clearly represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, D D are the stationary side frames, and E is a rotary cylininder of comparatively large diameter journaled between the upper portions of the side frames, and which forms a traveling abutment or platen against the under side of which the embossed paper bears in being wiped. This cylinder is preferably made vertically adjustable like the printing-cylinder of a color-printing machine. In the construction represented in the drawings the vertically-sliding bearings of the cylinder are suspended from the arms of a horizontal rockshaft e by chains e and the rock-shaft is provided with a rigid handle for turning it to raise or lower the cylinder, the rock-shaft being held in any desired position by a pawl 6 pivoted to the stationary frame and engaging with a ratchet-wheel 6 secured to the rockshaft.

F is a moistening device arranged opposite the lower front side of the cylinder E, whereby the color covering the embossments of the paper 1s da| npened previous to wiping it off. 1 his moistening device preferably consists of a reservoir or fountain f, containing water, and an endless band or apron of cloth traveling around guide-rollers f, journaled in the frame of the machine and running in contact with the embossed paper, which latter is fed between the cylinder and the moisteningapron and carried onward by the same. By thel lnmersion of its lower portion in the waterreservoir f the endless apron becomes saturated and imparts a portion of its moisture to the color or coating upon the embossments of the paper, thus softening or loosening the background color which covers the embossments and rendering it easily removable.

G is a wiper arranged opposite the lower rear side of the cylinder E, whereby the moistened background color is removed from the raised portions of the embossed paper. This wiper consists, preferably, of an endless clot-h band or apron guided upon rollers g and having a considerable portion of its upper part running in contact with the cylinder, so as to present a large wiping-surface to the paper passing between the same and the cylinder.

For this purpose the upper part of the apron runs over two guide-rollers, one of which (let' tered g in the drawings) is preferably made adjustable toward and from the cylinder, so that the apron may be brought in proper concentric contact with the cylinder. The apron 1s caused to travel faster than the cylinder, so as to have a wiping or rubbing action, while the dampening-apron travels at about the same speed as the cylinder. The dampeningapron presses the paper against the cylinder and prevents the same from slipping under the rubbing action of the wiper.

H is a cleaner arranged opposite the front side of the wiping-apron for detaching the paint adhering to the apron. This cleaner consists, preferably, of a transverse spraypipe, which delivers a number of jets or streams of water against the apron, so as to loosen and detach the greater portion of the paint from the apron. This spray-pipe is supplied from any convenient source by a flexible or other pipe h. A scraper I is arranged against the rear side of the apron for removing any paint or moisture which is not detached by the spray-pipe. The wiping-apron runs in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, so that the material adhering to the apron first encounters the spraying device and then the cleaner, thus thoroughly cleaning the apron once during every circuit.

J is a reservoir or receptacle arranged underneath the lower portion of the wipingapron, and which receives the colored liquid or paint removed from the apron by the spraypipe and the scraper. The colored or embossed paper to be wiped is wound upon a beam or roller is and thence passes alternately over and under the transverse bars of a frame L, which guides the paper between the cylinderE and the moisteningapron F. Upon issuing from the rear side of the cylinder the wiped paper passes upward over a guide-roller m, from which it is again conducted to the drying-room, where it remains until it is dry. The embossed paper so prepared may be used as wall-paper without further treatment, if desired. For instance, if the paper is embossed with flowers, foliage, or any other distinctive design, it may be applied to the wall without receiving an additional pattern or figure; but if the paper is embossed, say, with a scale-like surface, or in imitation of matting, or in a similar small pattern, a design or figure is preferably printed upon such prepared paper, which latter, after being dried, is varnished in the manner well known in the art. Then the paper is finished in this way, its variegated and embossed surface forms a novel and pleasing background for the pattern printed thereon.

Instead of applying two colors or coatings to the paper before embossing it-that is, a hard relief color and a soft background colora single soft color or coating may be applied to the paper previous to embossingit, in which case the natural color of the paper as it comes from the paper-manufacturer is exposed on the embossments upon removing the soft background color therefrom, while the soft color remains in the depressions of the paper and forms the background, as in the method first described.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described method of making embossed variegated wall-paper, which consists in first applying a color or other coating upon the paper, then embossing the paper, and then removing the color or coating from the embossments of the' paper, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described method of making embossed variegated wall-paper, which consists in first applying the desired relief and background colors or other coatings upon the paper, then embossing the colored or coated paper, and then removing the second orbackground coating from the embossments of the paper to expose the under or relief coating, while leaving the background coating in the depressions of the paper, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for wiping embossed wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen against which the paper runs, of a moistening device whereby the portions of the colored or coated paper to be wiped are dampened, and a wiper for removing such dampened portions of the color or coating from the paper, substantially as set forth.

at. In I an apparatus for wiping embossed wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen, of a moistening device for dampening the portions of the colored or coated paper to be wiped and a wiper consisting of set forth.

5. In an apparatus for wiping embossed Wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen, of a moistening device for dampening the portions of the colored or coated paper to be wiped and a Wiper consisting of an endless band or apron runnin gin contact with said cylinder or platen and havingits contact or wiping portion arranged concentric with the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for wiping embossed wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen, of a inoistening device for dampening the portions of the colored or coated paper to be wiped, a wiper consisting of an endless band or apron running in contact with said cylinder or platen, and a cleaner whereby the material adhering to the apron is detached, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for wiping embossed wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen, of a moistening device for dampening the portions of the colored or coated paper to be wiped, a wiper consisting of an endless band or apron running in contact with said cylinder or platen, and a spray-pipe which delivers jets of Water upon said apron for cleaning it, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for wiping embossed wall-paper, the combination, with a cylinder or platen against which the paper runs, of an endless moistening-apron running in contact with the front side of said cylinder and an endless wiping-apron running in contact with the rear side of said cylinder ata higher speed than the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 2d day of September, 1891.

GEORGE K. BIRGE.

WVitnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, ALICE G. CoNNELLY. 

